Ethopian footrace turns into anti-government demo

Nov 27, 2005 (ADDIS ABEBA) — Hundreds of Ethiopian demonstrators turned the end of a charity long-distance footrace and a prize ceremony Sunday into an anti-government protest.

Some 26,000 runners took part in a 10 kilometre (six mile) race designed to support a campaign against AIDS, the finishing line being Meskel Square, the biggest square in the capital.

As groups numbering between 200 and 300 contestants crossed the line they made the victory sign that is the symbol of the chief opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), and shouted slogans accusing the government of theft and attacking Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

About 300 runners disrupted the prize-giving ceremony by whistling and making the victory sign with their arms.

Police, equipped with batons, stood by and did not intervene.

Since the start of the month 48 people have been killed in Ethiopia and 200 injured in clashes between police and opposition supporters, mostly in the capital, in protests organised by the CUD against election results earlier this year which returned the ruling party to power.

(AFP/ST)